You might not be aware of this but table tennis has changed a lot since that time. It’s almost a completely different sport. The ball has changed and that drastically alters how short pips are played and their usefulness.
In the 90s and before, they use to play with a 38mm celluloid ball. This ball was small, spiny and unbelievably fast. Speed killed. Just watch any Liu Guoliang, arguably the greatest penholder ever, and you will see what I mean as he stands up on the table and smashes opponents into submission.
Then after the 2000 Olympics the ball changed from 38mm to 40mm. The speed was less and spin became a premium. Short pip play started to die off. Fast forward to July of 2014 and the ITTF changed the ball again. This time from 40mm (technically 39. Something mm) to 40+ (so just over 40mm) plastic or poly balls. Not celluloid. Again this new ball is even slower and less spiny.
Short pips thrives on the speed play. When that is taken away, spin then becomes a premium and thus you have the style of play we have today.
Question:
What’s the point of this history lesson?Answer:
Find relevant players from the 40+ Plastic ball era to emulate. You will not be able to do what they did back in the 80s.Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy technique videos such as this from 2-time world champion Jiang Jialiang. His technique is sound and will always be a good reference point.
However, if you would like to see what type of approach you’d have to take into today’s game, check out this youtube playlist I created called “Short Pip Penholders. (40+ plastic ball era)”. I add to it all the time and these players should be a good frame of reference for you.
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